Vulcanizing or drying apparatus



Marc h 14, 1933. e. H. KNOWLTON ,9o1,3o6

VULCANIZING OR DRYING APPARATUS Filed April lO, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l fil ///U/fl////////flfl/////////////////// 7/7 JJJMJ J Tuz/enjoy:

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March 14, 1933. KNQWLTON 1,901,306

VULCANIZING OR DRYING APPARATUS Filed April lO, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2March 14, 1933.

KNOWLTON 1,901,306

VULCANIZING OR DRYING APPARATUS Filed April lO, 1929 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3QE& S v 21 I i 30 a %ll/IA Invenor.

ditar/?ey l atented Mar. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE E.KNOWLTON, OF WESTBROOK, MAINE VULCANIZING OR DRYING APPABATUSApplication filed April 10',

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to app'aratus forcontinuous feeding of sheet material into and out of a vulcanizer ordrier oven after one side of the sheet has been coated with apreparation, one of the ingredients in which is rubber or any materialthat needs drying or vulcanizing.

In Operating this class of apparatus it is essential, if a s mooth andevenly dried or Vulcanized coating on the sheet material is to beprocured, that the coated side of the sheet be always kept out ofcontact with the feeding rolls or other supporting elements in thesheet-feeding mechanism, and that the sheet be kept in constant motionto prevent over 'vulcanizing or drying in any one place or sheet. t

To accomplish this, which is one of the object-s of my presentinvention, I provide a 30 plurality of driven rolls disposed in parallelrelation and acting synchronously at a uniform speed, the sheet passingthrough the vulcanizing or drying chamber in a draped or festoonedarrangment, forming loops which hang Suspended from between eachrespective pair of rolls, with the uncoated side of the sheet onlyContacting with th rolls.

A further object of the invention is to provide'means to equalize thelengths 'of the loops when, for instance, one of the rolls has over-fedthe sheet and the loop adjacent has become distended beyond the others.I attain this object by lifting the sheet from one side of theover-feeding roll, thereby shortening its Contacting surface anddelaying or stopping the feeding of the sheet at the said roll andthereby causing the overfed portion to be taken up by the feeding 40movement of the other rolls`without stop-t ping or 'checking themovement of the sheet as a whole through the vulcanizing chamber.

A still further object resides in the extremely large Capacity of thissheet-feeding mechanism, attainable by reason of the quantity of sheetmaterial which may be taken Care of in the depending loops and whichallows of substantially the entire space within the vulcanier chamberbeing utilized.

The character of the invention may be best 1929. Serial No. 354,050.

description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in whichan illustrative embodiment thereof is disclosed, which at 'the presenttime I consider preferable to other possible forms in which theinvention might be carried out. u

` In the drawings, in which like characters 'understood by referencetothe following Fig. 3 is a side elevation of' the same, and

further, showing a fragmentary view of the feed-roll and drag-bar.

Fig. 4 is an assembly of three complete hangers, shown in 'endelevation, the side wall of the vulcanizing or drying chamber beingremoved for convenience of illustration.

Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrammatical illustrations showing two positions ofthe sheet--feeding and non-feeding, tively.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional detail of the feed roll.

Referring to Fig. 1, A isa vulcanizing or drying chamber enclosing theentire apparatus, except for the exteriorly arranged sprockets by meansof which the stop-feed mechanism is actuated, and B represents thesteani pipes which supply heat for vulcanizing or"drying purposes. Inpractice, the steam pipes Bwill be arranged at the bottom and the sideand rear wall of the chamber, but any other suitable heating means maybeemployed.

, In this figure isalso shown in abbreviated' Outline the generalarrangenent of the parts having to do with the feeding of the sheet, andthe position which the sheet occupies as it depends from one feed roll,is formed into a loop, and rises to and passes over thenext feed roll,and so on, to drape or festoon the sheet to form depending loops.

The sheet S starts from the coating marespecchine (not shown), andpassing-over the equalizing roll 1, forms into a varable compensatingloop 2, the purpose of which will which maintain the sprocket chain ina' stretched condition.

i The main 'drive is through the sprocket' chain 8 Operating on asprocket on the shaft 9. From this shaft the first feed-roll 3 is driventhrough the chain 10 and the windmachine drive is through the chain 11.

in %n Figs. 2 and 3, details of the hanger and stop-feed mechanism areillustrated.

On an I-beam 12 is adjustably Secured the frame 13 of the hanger, itbeing understood,

of course, that there is a hanger on each end of the roll 3,- and in thebearing 14 thereof is journalled the shaft 15, integral with' the roll3, which' latter is preferably tubular in I form.

On the inner side of the hanger and adjustably secured thereto is theplate 16, at the lower end of which, in the aperture 16' is a collar 17in which is located the gudgeon end 18 of the drag-bar 19. This latteris circumferentially adjustable in the collar 17 upon releasing theset-screw 20. i

- On thegsurface of the roll 3 and also on the drag-bar 19 are ribs 21and 22, respectively, these ribs spiralling in difl'erent directionsfrom the lengthwise center of the rolls and drag-bar, outwardly towardthe` ends thereof.

' The object of this Construction is for the purpose of exerting aslight tension on the surface of the sheet material acting from thecentral portion outwardly, this tending to keep it taut and smooth.

In an arcuate slot 23, in the plate 16, is a shaft 24 which extendsacross the vulcanizer to the correspondingplate 16 on the hangeropposite. On this shaft -is fixed a pinion 25 making meshing engagementwith the segment of a gear 26 which is bolted to the plate 16 concentricwith the arcuate slot. On the end of the shaft which rojects out'-wardly from the vulcanizer c amber is a sprocket wheel 27 operablemanually by the sprocket chain 28.'

The hangers are arranged in pairs, one hanger on. each end' ofeachfeed-roll 3, and as each is equipped with the elements just previouslydescribed, it is 'obvious that by rotating the sprocket 27- the. shaft24 will be' elevated in the slot 23 with its axis always parallel, orapproximately parallel, with that of the feed-roll, and further, thatwhen so raised, as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2 andcliagranmatically illustrated in Fig. 6, will cause the sheet material Sto loose its grip of the feed-roll to such an extent as` to stop itsfurther movement over such feed-roll, the drag-bar. 19 assisting inoffering more or less resistance to forward movement of the sheet.

The operation of this stop-feed mechanism and the object in' equippingthe hangers therewith may be more comprehensively understood byreference to Fig. 4.

Let it be assumed that the first feed-roll 3 has, from some cause,overfed the sheet S and a longer loop 29 formed. By actuating the chain28, the shaft 24 is raised and this delays or entirely stops furtherforward movement of the portion Sa of the sheet S. But the other rolls 3are still actively .drawing the sheet forwardly and continue to 'do sountil the bottom 'of the loop 29 is raised to' alevel with the otherloops,o r as shown in dot and dash lines (Fig. 4), at which'point theshaft 24, which was elevated, is lowered to its normal position in thebottom of the slot 23 and the feeding of the sheet is now efected by allof the rolls in regular order. i

During the time in which the sheet is idling over the first feed-roll 3the equalizer roll 1 continues to feed the sheet for,-

uwardly, so that a length of sheet equal to the extra amount in the loop29 is added to the variable compensating loop 2, extending itas shown at2a. u

This action may'take place on any one of the rollsin the' line shown inFig.- 1, and when it occurs on any of the centrally'located ones, thoseover which the sheet has already traveled must be given the sametreatment. as has just been described. regarding the first one, the surplus length of overfeed being eventually transferred to the variablecompensating loop 2, which 'by proper takeup mechanism in ,the coatingmachine may be kept within bounds. v

A detail in the Construction of the feed roll is illustrated in Fig. 7.The roll is first grooved to receive the round wire 21,

the depth of the groove 30 being somewhat greater than one-half thediameter of the wire. The roll is placed on Centers, in a lathe orwindi'ng machine, and the wire' tightly wound into the groove, at thesame time an upsettingtool engages the surfaces t, t, rolling theshoulders of the groove firmly against the wire and rigidly securing it.

The plate. 16 is adjustably Secured to the hanger at 31, a slot 32allowing the plate to be lowered or raised on a pivot 31a with aconsequent effect of moving the drag-bar 19' toward or from,respectively, a central, vertical line through the hanger bearing. Thepivot 31c is located at one side of the hanger and the bolt 31 and theslot 32 are located at the other side of said hanger.

XVhen adjustments are made at 31, corresponding adjustments are usuallyrequired to be made in the angular. position of the drag-bar 19, madethrough relaxing the screw 20.

As will be noted by observing Figs. 2 and 3, the hangers are adjustablelengthwise of the I-beam by releasing the holding cleats 33. This issometimes required when sheets of different pliability or thicknessesare to be coated-a difference in this pliability. generally beingaccompanied by either greater or less space between the depending sidesof the down-handlng loops, necesstatng, n some cases, more room betweenthe successive folds of the material. i

hat is claimed:

1. An apparatus of the class described, including means for supporting asheet of material draped or festooned to form a series of dependingloops having free lower ends, the said means being arranged forcontinuously feeding the sheet of material for passing the same into,through and out of a drying and vulcanizing ,chamber, and means for ivarving the frictional contact between the sheet and the .feeding means,whereby overrun or feed of the material in the loops may be taken upwithout interrupting the feed of the sheet.

2. An apparatus of the class described, including means for supporting asheet of material draped or festooned to form a series of dependingloops having free lower ends, the said means being arranged forcontinuously feeding the sheet of material for passing the same into,through and out of a drying and vulcanizing chamber, means for Varyingthe frictional contact between the sheet and the feeding means, wherebyover-run or feed of the material in the loops may be taken up withoutinterrupting the feed of the sheet through the apparatus,

and means for forming 'a varia'ble com-' canizing chamber, and means forVarying, the length of the depending loops to take' up any overfeed ofthe sheet and maintain the loops of a substantially uniform lengthwithout interrupting the continuous feed of the sheet.

4. An apparatus of the class described, including a series of overheadrolls arranged to support a sheet of material draped or festooned toform a plurality of depending loops having free lower ends, "means forarranging the rolls different distances apart to vary the width of thespace between the sides of the loops, means fr rotating the rolls forcontinuously feeding the sheet, and means for varying the frictionalcontact between the sheet and the feeding means for varying the lengthof the loops without'interrupting the feed of the sheet.

5. An apparatus of the class described, in-

cluding overhead rolls arranged to support a sheet of material 'drapedor festooned to form a series of depending loops havingfree lower ends,the rolls being arranged to continuously feed the'sheet, and separatemanually operable means associated with the rolls for interrupting thefeed of any individual roll without interrupting the feed of the sheetto vary the length of the loops and take up any overflow or run of thematerial in the said loops.

6. An apparatus of the class described' including overhead rollsarranged to support a sheet of material draped or `festooned to form aseries of depending loops having free lower ends, means for rotating therolls to continuously feed thesheet, separate manually operable meansassociated with the rolls for varying the frictional contact of thesheet with any individual roll without interruptingthe feed of the sheetto vary the length of theloops and take up any overflow or run of thematerial in the said loops,

and fixed transverse bars extending through the upper portions of theloops in spaced relation with the feed rolls' and coacting with the saiddevices for retarding the feeding of the sheet.

i 7. An 'apparatus of the. class described,

including overhead feed rolls arranged to support a sheet of'materialdraped or`festooned to form a plurality of depending loops havingfreelower ends, said feed rolls being provided with reversely arrangedspiral ribs extending from the centers to the ends of the rolls tospread a sheet laterally, means for rotating the rolls to continuouslyfeed the sheet during the drying or vulcanizing operation, fixeddrag-bars extending through the upper portions of the` loops andprovided with reversely arranged diverging ribs to spread or Stretch thesheet laterally. i i

8. An apparatus of the class described, including overhead feed rollsarranged to support a sheet of material draped or' festooned'to form' aplurality of depending loops having free lower ends, said. feed rollsbeing provided with reversely arranged spiral ribs extending from thecenters to theends of the rolls to spread a sheet laterally, means forrotating the rolls to contin-- 4 devices including transverse rodsextending through the upper portions of the loops between the feed rollsand the fixed drag-bars andmovable to partially lift the sheet from thefeed rolls to interrupt the feed of the sheet to the individual loopsfor varying the length of the latter.

9. An apparatus of the class described including overhead feed .rollsarranged to support a sheetof material draped or'festooned to form apluralt of depending loops having free lower end s means for rotatng therolls to feed the sheet, fixed transverse drag bars extending throughthe upper portions of the loops and engaging the sheet at one side ofeach of the loops, pivotally mounted plates supporting the fixed dragbars and movable to adjust the fixed drag bars toward and from 'theother side of the loops, and clamping means for engaging the pivotedplates to secure the same in their adjustment.

10. An apparatus of the class described, including hangers arranged inpairs`,`overhead feed rolls mounted in the hangers and arranged tosupport a sheet of material draped or festooned to form a plurality ofdepending loops having free lower ends,

plates pivotally mounted on the hangers at one side thereof and havingdepending portions, fixed drag bars mounted in the depending'portions ofthe plates and extending through the upper portions of the loops inspaeed relation with the feed rolls, *and mounted on the hangerat Vclamping 'means the other side thereof and connected with the pivotedplates for securing the latter in their adjustment.

11. An apparatus of the class described'- includng overhead feed rollsarranged to support a sheet of material, draped or festooned to form aplurality of depending loops having free lower ends, transverse rodsextending through the upper portions of the loops in spaced relationwith the feed rolls, and manuallyoperable means for p moving thetransverse rods substantially in the arc of a 'circle with respectto-the feed rolls .to partially lift the sheet from'the feed rolls forinterrupting the feed of the sheet to the individual loops withoutinterrupt- *ing the feed of the sheet through the appa I e I r carriedby the said member and n mesh ratus.

12. Au'apparatu's of the class described including a plurality ofoverhead feed rolls arranged to support a sheet of material draped orfestooned to form a plurality of depending loops having free lower ends,arcuate gudes located adjacent the rolls, transverse rods extendingthrough' the upper portions of the loops and Operating in the guides,fixed toothed segments concentric with the guides, and gears nounted onthe rods and meshing with the segments and adapted to move the rods inthe guides w hen the said rods are rotated, whereby the sheet is liftedfrom the feed rolls to interrupt the feeding of the sheet to theindividual loops Without interrupting the feed of the sheet through theapparatus.

apparatus of the class described includin a plurality of overhead feedrolls arrange to support a sheet of material draped or festooned to forma plurality of depending loops having free lower ends, arcuate guideslocated adjacent the rolls, transverse rods extendin'g through the upperportions of the loops and Operating in the guides, fixed toothedsegments concentric with the guides, and `ge rs mounted on the rods andmeshing With the segments and adapted to move the rods in the uides whenthe said rods are rotated, where y the sheet is lifted from the feedrolls to interrupt the feeding of the sheet to the individual loopswithout interrupting the feed of the sheet to admit of draping sheetmaterial thereover to provide loops and means for rotating the rolls tofeed the material thereover, :of means for Varying the frictionalcontact between the material, and a roll to admit of varying the lengthof a loopwithout stopping or changing the speed of the roll.

15. The combination With rolls disposed to adnit of draping sheetmaterial thereover to provide loops and means for rotatng the rolls tofeed the. material thereover, of a vertically movable member reach ofthe loop, and manually operable means for lifting the said member tovary the frictional contact of the sheet with the roll .to vary the feedand length of the loop of the sheet without stoppng or changing thespeed of the roll.

.16. The combination with rolls,di'sposed toadmit of'draping sheetmaterial thereover `to provide loops and means for rotating the rolls tofeed the material: thereover, of a vertically movable member engaging areach `of a loop, a toothed element, a pinion engaging a with thetoothed element, and means for rotatimi mova.

the p'mion to eflect a, liftn le member and portion of t of the e sheetpassing thereover to vary the length of the loop.

In testimony whereof I hve hereunto set my hand, this 5th day of April,1929.

GEORGE H. KNOWLTON.

